About the Mississippi
Cruises on the Mississippi are operated by paddle-wheel and modern shallow-draft ships from American Cruise Lines and American Queen Voyages. Itineraries run on the Lower Mississippi between New Orleans and Memphis, on the Upper Mississippi between St. Louis and St. Paul, and as full-river journeys of three weeks.
Headline destinations: New Orleans, Memphis, Vicksburg, St. Louis, St. Paul.
The river flows through 1 countries — United States. 16 ships from 3 different operators currently sail itineraries here, ranging from week-long classic loops to multi-week extended voyages.
Featured itineraries on the Mississippi
| Itinerary | Length | Sample ports |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Mississippi Heritage | 8 nights | New Orleans · Oak Alley · Baton Rouge · St. Francisville · Natchez · Vicksburg · Memphis |
| Upper Mississippi Cruise | 8 nights | St. Louis · Hannibal · Burlington · Davenport · Dubuque · La Crosse · St. Paul |
| Complete Mississippi | 22 nights | New Orleans · Natchez · Vicksburg · Memphis · St. Louis · Hannibal · Dubuque |
Operators sailing the Mississippi
Viking River Cruises
Scandinavian-styled Longships exploring Europe's great waterways.
American Cruise Lines
US-built coastal and river ships across America's waterways.
American Queen Voyages
Heritage paddle-wheelers on the Mississippi River system.